Reality TV stars Joey Essex, Lauren Pope and Jamie Laing head celebs shunning charity version of Naked Attraction
IT might be for a good cause but this is not enough to convince celebrities to go starkers on telly.
Nude dating show Naked Attraction is set to make a one-off celebrity special for Stand Up To Cancer — but some of reality TV’s biggest stars appear to be running scared of going bare.
The Channel 4 show presented by ANNA RICHARDSON — sees singletons choose from six naked contestants stood in frosted-glass boxes, before then stripping off themselves.
But bookers for the proposed celebrity version are struggling to sign up any names, despite sending out blanket invites to celebs, from soap actors to reality favourites, including cast members from Love Island, Ex On The Beach, Towie, Made In Chelsea and Geordie Shore.
Sitting at the top of the wish list are JOEY ESSEX, LAUREN POPE and JAMIE LAING.
They have been asked to appear totally nude and donate their fee to charity, lured by the prospect of appearing on the “most talked about TV moment” of the year.
Above my design wizards have mocked up how the three might look on the show.
A production source said: “The celebrity one-off show would be a ratings hit, with massive viewing figures.
“But producers are having a nightmare in trying to sign up the usual reality star suspects because no-one is prepared to to strip naked on telly.
“Many of those who have been asked would be up for doing something with Channel 4 for charity, but they’ve drawn the line at nudity.
“Once you’ve stripped off on telly there’s no going back and it’s out there forever. Some of them have politely declined and others have just ignored producers’ messages.”
While filming in Manchester has been pencilled in for May, Channel 4 has not set an air date yet and says that the show has yet to be formally commissioned.
The way the planning for this one is going, it might never happen . . .
READ MORE FROM DAN WOOTTON’S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Jungle Jamie in new love split
JAMIE LOMAS stuck it out for three weeks in the I’m A Celeb jungle last year – but his latest relationship hasn’t had the same staying power.
Soap star Jamie has split with model girlfriend NICOLA MIMNAGH after a whirlwind three-month relationship.
The pair, pictured below in January, decided to call it quits after struggling to spend any time together after Jamie’s time in Australia for the ITV reality show.
A source said: “Jamie and Nicola pulled the plug on their relationship earlier this month. Things have been hectic for him with new jobs following his stint in I’m A Celeb and he has struggled to spend any time with Nicola.
“He’s gutted as he was fond of her and honestly thought it would be a long-time thing.”
Jamie, who played Warren Fox on Hollyoaks, split from wife KYM MARSH in 2014 just 13 months after they married.
He has since dated two other models, Jamie Lee Williams and Chloe Peers, but both relationships fizzled out.
Jamie recently admitted he’s normally single because he goes for the wrong women.
He said: “I’m a sucker for a pretty face.”
He certainly has a type.
ECCY THUMPS BEEB ON SPEECH
TV host STEPH McGOVERN’s claim of a posh accent bias at the BBC has been backed by CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON.
The ex-Doctor Who star even claimed it was “class hatred” even though he is about to star in a new Beeb drama. Salford-born Christopher, left, plays an abandoned dad with a Northern Irish accent in Come Home, which starts on March 27.
Steph started the row last week by saying posher twangs were preferred for roles. And Christopher said the BBC still produces too many shows with stars using received pronunciation. He said: “You only have to listen to the BBC – it’s the only accent that exists, apparently, according to the BBC.
“There seemed to be a period when it got better and now it’s getting worse. It’s because of class hatred – it’s very simple.”
Must watch
WHAT? Requiem, 9pm, BBC1.
WHY? It’s the final episode of this supernatural drama in which central character Matilda finds herself in mortal peril while she ignores warnings to protect herself.
Luke who is taking a break
GARY LUCY is no stranger to getting his kit off on Hollyoaks so he won’t be out of practice when he returns to his side gig later this year.
The hunk is to take a nine-month break from the Channel 4 soap to strip off on The Full Monty UK tour when it kicks off in September.
And bosses expect the departure of his character Luke Morgan to hit screens at the end of summer – once a plot involving an affair between his on-screen girlfriend Mandy and Darren wraps up.
A source close to the show said: “It’s going to be an epic storyline which is likely to boil over this summer.
“Gary had already signed up for The Full Monty before returning to Hollyoaks last year so bosses knew that the dates would have to be worked around.
“Producers know how popular he is as a character so would never want to kill him off. He’ll definitely be back.”
Biz bit
NEIL MORRISSEY won over KATE BOTTLEY on BBC2 reality show The Road To Santiago by reprising his role as Bob The Builder. He wowed Gogglebox’s vicar by calling her kids as the children’s TV fave. She said: “It was a beautiful moment.”
SOAPBOX
DEBBIE has much cause for concern in EMMERDALE following recent confrontations in the village, and there’s a desperate bid by Aaron to keep a disturbing secret under wraps.
Elsewhere, Paddy and Chas have to deliver some unexpected news.
In CORONATION STREET, Josh and David decide to paint the town red together, then end the night back at Josh’s flat.
Meanwhile, Fiz makes a shocking discovery about Hope then agrees to try again with Tyrone.
Robert overhears an intriguing row and Ali reveals the full extent of his family troubles to Steve.
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